Meet Caitlyn, 17, a junior soldier and musician. Find out more about her life in the Army. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
Caitlyn:
I am Caitlyn. I'm seventeen years old and I am a junior soldier.
A junior soldier is someone aged sixteen or seventeen that completes their basic training at the Army Foundation College. The Army Foundation College is one of the many basic training establishments in the U.K. Day-to-day, we normally wake up around six o'clock in the morning. We then have about twenty minutes to get ready, showered, put on uniform. We then do block jobs, so cleaning the block top to bottom, making sure everything's nice and neat. We then go and have breakfast in the morning.
All the soldiers love the fried breakfasts. It's the typical thing that we get here at the Army Foundation College. We then go onto the lessons throughout the day, such as P.T. lessons, so developing our physical strength for soldiers. We also learn basic field craft where we learn how to survive in the field and on exercise. We then normally, finish at around five o'clock to then finish doing our personal admin.
We're taught to do things the same as everyone else, to produce uniformity in the army, things such as polishing your boots, making your beds, ironing your clothes, folding your clothes, making sure that all your locker layouts are the exact same. I'm joining the Army as an army musician, so things such as Trooping the Colour that you see for the Queen's Birthday Parade is all based off the foundations of army musicians. We also get army musicians posted out to places such as Afghanistan to help build the morale of the soldiers out there and also to create stronger connections with other countries.
It wasn't always my plan to join the Army. I had considered sixth form and A-levels and going through university or a conservatoire, which most musicians tend to do. However, after looking into it, I decided it was the thing for me. The GCSE subject that I think helped me the most to get here is Music, because obviously it's the job choice that I've chosen and therefore Music has helped give me that background knowledge.
Caitlyn's colleague:
Junior soldier Burton has quite a few attributes that make her special and what we need for the role. She has good presence. She's confident. She's not scared to get involved and she's a good leader, because she sets a good example, that other junior soldiers could follow and aspire to be like her.
Caitlyn:
My favourite bit about being a junior soldier is the fact that you get to make friends for life and you get to meet people from across the country and all from different backgrounds all going to different jobs roles. Yet you all have that one thing in common, grounding you and helping you make that friendship for life.
My favourite bit about being a junior soldier is the fact that you get to make friends for life and you get to meet people from across the country and from different backgrounds.
Caitlyn follows a set routine, waking around six o'clock in the morning to get ready and then do jobs, such as cleaning and tidying around her dorm, before having breakfast with the rest of her colleagues
She has lessons throughout the day, such as training to develop her strength and fitness. She also learns about basic field craft to survive in the field and on exercise
Caitlyn has a love of music and studied it at GCSE. She joined the Army as an army musician, and could be posted out to places all over the world. Her role involves everything from performing at famous, high-profile events, to helping build morale of soldiers out on operations and creating stronger connections with other countries.
Caitlyn is a junior soldier. Once her basic training is complete, she will become a soldier. Soldiers take part in peacekeeping missions, supporting humanitarian efforts or fighting in combat zones around the world.
What to expect if you want to be a soldier
Soldiers take part in peacekeeping missions, supporting humanitarian efforts or fighting in combat zones around the world.
- Soldier average salary: £15,985 to £35,853
You will earn £15,671 in initial training, rising to £20,000 as a starting salary after training. This can increase with time and promotion up to £35,853 per year as a sergeant.
Recruits (in initial training): £15,985 a year
Private: £20,400 a year
Lance Corporal: £27,326 a year
Corporal: £31,869 a year
Sergeant: £35,853 a year
Soldier typical working hours: Variable. You could work evenings, weekends and bank holidays away from home
What qualifications do you need to be a soldier?
You could get into this role via an apprenticeship or applying directly.
Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service, Army website
This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service website for the latest information and all the qualifications needed.
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: National Careers Service (England), nidirect (Northern Ireland), My World of Work (Scotland) and Careers Wales (Wales).
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